QED

Further to @MN Fisher's remarks above, "bourgeoisie" in French means middle class so the bourgeoisie (or its slang equivalents) won't typically be buying high end gear.

The holistic list of reels and rods, both spinning and casting: Reel Weight Line Capacity Line Loaded Daiwa PX Type-R 5.8 oz 6/95, 8/75 6 lb Daiwa Steez 103HA 5.5 oz 12/120, 14/100 12 lb Daiwa Steez 103SHA 5.6 oz 12/120, 14/100 12 lb Daiwa Steez CT SV 700 XH 5.3 oz 8/110, 10/85 10 lb Daiwa Steez CT SV 70 XH 5.3 oz 8/110, 10/85 6 lb Daiwa Steez EX100XS 5.8 oz 14/120, 16/100 17 lb Daiwa Steez SV TW (LH) 5.5 oz 14/100 none Lew’s® Custom Lite SLP (3) 4.9 oz 12/90 6/8/12 lb Team Lew's® Pro Mag Lite LFS 5.3 oz 12/120 14 lb Team Lew’s® Pro-Ti SLP 6.3 oz 12/110 12 lb Team Lew’s® Pro Z 6.1 oz 12/120 20 lb Ryobi V-Mag Lite VM3G 5.4 oz 8/175, 10/125 10 lb Shimano Aldebaran BFS XG 4.6 oz 6/50 6 lb Shimano Aldebaran MGL 30HG 4.8 oz 7/100 8 lb Daiwa 500C 4.9 oz 2/140, 4/85 2 lb Lew’s® Custom Pro 1000 (2) 7.2 oz 6/90 4/6 lb Ryobi MG1 (2) ~7.5 oz 4/290, 6/180 4/6 lb Ryobi MGT1 7.7 oz 4/290, 6/180 6 lb Shimano Soare CI4+ 500S 4.9 oz 3/76.5 4 lb Shimano Stella FJ 1000 6.0 oz 4/160, 6/110 6/8 lb Shimano Stella FK 1000 5.8 oz 4/160, 6/110 6 lb Shimano Stella FI 2000S 6.3 oz 4/109, 5/82 4 lb Shimano Twin Power FD 1000 6.2 oz 4/160, 6/110 6 lb Shimano Vanford 500F (3) 4.9 oz 4/100 6/60 4/6 lb Shimano Vanford 1000F 5.3 oz 4/160, 6/110 6 lb Shimano Vanford C2000HG 5.3 oz 6/165. 8/105 8 lb Rod Weight Line Weight Range Length Fenwick HMG GFC556 n/a 12-25 lb 5’6” Lew’s Pro-Ti 68M ~4.2 oz 6-12 lb 6’8” Phenix K2 TX-C 683ML ~3.5 oz 4-12 lb 6’8” Saint Croix XFC68MXF 4.6 oz 8-14 lb 6’8” Shimano GR-01451 (2) 6.33 oz 4-10 lb 4’6” Shimano GR-01522 6.95 oz 6-15 lb 5’2” Shimano GR-01503 6.87 oz 10-20 lb 5’ Shimano GR-01553 7.06 oz 10-20 lb 5.5’ Shimano Poison Adrena 163L BFS 3.35 oz 6-12 lb 6’3” Shimano Poison Adrena 163M 3.35 oz 8-16 lb 6’3” Daiwa Regal Strike (Gold) n/a 2-4 lb 5’ Daiwa Regal Strike (Silver) n/a 2-6 lb 5’ Daiwa Presso 501ULFS ~2.5 oz 1-4 lb 5’ Daiwa Presso 604ULFS-TR ~2.8 oz 2-6 lb 6’ Fenwick 149 1.75 oz 1-4 lb 4’9” Fenwick HMG GS 49UL-M (2) ~1.8 oz 1-6 lb 4’9” Fenwick HMG GS 56UL-2 (2) ~1.9 oz 1-6 lb 5’6” Fenwick HMXS 49UL ~1.6 oz 1-6 lb 4’9” Fenwick Golden Wing 49UL ~1.6 oz 1-6 lb 4’9” Shimano Poison Adrena 267ML 3.25 oz 4-8 lb 6’7”

Daiwa PX Type-R 5.8 oz Daiwa Steez CT SV TW 700 XH 5.3 oz Daiwa Steez CT SV TW 70 XH 5.3 oz Shimano Aldebaran BFS XG 4.6 oz Shimano Aldebaran MGL 30HG 4.8 oz Note that the more recent finesse reels have surpassed the older Pixy reel in pretty much all respects, though I still enjoy fishing the latter.

Grey market goods may be cheaper but you usually lose warranty support, so factor that into the pricing decision. Agreed that you might rationally accept that risk but don't agree that there isn't a downside risk when internationally shopping primarily by price.

Getting bargains due to exchange rates is always a good thing but the main reason to buy JDM is to source something that isn't available domestically.

1/4", 3/8", 5/8" depending on the size of your stick baits. I use the ones with an exterior hook loop perpendicular to the plane of the O-ring itself. Seems to improve hookups substantially.

Since I mostly fish ultralight, BFS, and light tackle: Shimano Aldebaran BFS XG 4.6 oz Shimano Aldebaran MGL 30HG 4.8 oz Both are JDM models. Most of my other casting reels are Daiwa.

Just ordered a Saint Croix XFC68MXF since I needed a medium/XF casting rod. The carbon fiber guides seem cool though the overall rod weight seems quite a bit heavier than the Phenix K2 approximate equivalent. Anyone use one of these - if so, how is it?

Also if you are a newb then set the tension (actually compression) knob such that the bait just barely drops when you hold the rod horizontally and the spool doesn't overrun when the bait hits the ground. Save the heroics for when you are more experienced.

The Daiwa Steez isn't a particular reel but rather a range of reels, so depending on your use case, they may or may not be interesting or useful for you. But they are generally well built. I have a half dozen of them, some of which were used over as much as a decade so my opinion is at least informed by actual use.

Yes, the 2021 version is smoother but the 2019 version isn't shabby at all. They changed the gear pitch and profile to make just a bit of a refinement to the gear train.

I like the Steez CT SV TW. You can get the 2019 model for a couple of hundred dollars less than the 2021 model, though the latter is the smoothest reel I've ever used. It's a bit finessey but can throw regular baits just fine.

If you have it cranked down fully and the drag still doesn't have adequate resistance then you have a defective reel. Return it or swap for another specimen.

I think I picked up mine in the 80s and fished it so often that the bails and bail springs would snap and fail, which was a weak spot on an otherwise brilliant reel. Tossed it when replacement parts were no longer available.

It's simple. If you are targeting specific structure/cover and don't think the water is productive after that, then reel it in quickly and move to the next target. If the intermediate water might be productive, then fish through it.

Ultralight. Works for me.

That's great news. I've been away from the delta for college and grad school and haven't been back. When I left, my favorite spots at the turning basin were overrun by homeless people.

Just another factor adding to the issues I noted. Fishing has gotten more difficult in the delta as a result. Glad I got to fish there in the heyday.

No one can catch fish where there are none. In the San Joaquin County delta fishery we have increased pollution and diversion of water to Southern California so bass and striper fishing has suffered accordingly. Sucks for fishing in the delta.

In that price range I really like the Lew's Custom Lite reel. It lists for a bit more but can readily be found discounted to be within the stated price constraint. It is palmable and SUPER light (4.9 oz).

Assuming you mean different choices while holding the temporal constraint, I wouldn't have done anything different. Unlimited budget back then couldn't have bought you anything more interesting or functional vis-à-vis current high end gear.

For price-performance ratio, I also like Lew's reels.

I pre-ordered a Daiwa Steez CT SV 70 XH from TW late last year and the ship date slipped a couple of times so I cancelled the order after finding one in stock at a different vendor. I don't blame TW however, since we're having supply chain issues throughout the economy.

Shallow spool reels or aftermarket shallow upgrade spools are readily available now so that's another potential option. Specialty skipping and BFS reels typically have shallow spools.

Mm, fried dace with salted black beans! Oh this isn't the obscure ethnic comfort food thread? Sorry about that...